Clashes escalate in Sanaa

Published May 26th, 2011 - 11:26 GMT

Yemeni security forces continued to battle in Sana'a armed supporters of the country’s most powerful tribal leader on Thursdayز

Yemeni security forces continued to battle in Sana'a armed supporters of the country’s most powerful tribal leader on Thursday as President Ali Abdullah Saleh ordered his arrest. The leader, Sheikh Sadiq al-Ahmar, meanwhile accused Saleh of dragging the country into civil war.

An ammunition store belonging to the Al-Ahmar tribe blew up in the Yemeni capital killing 28 people, the defense ministry’s news website said on Thursday. The store is in a building located near a military post where soldiers led by dissident General Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar are deployed, said the ministry. According to AFP, tribal sources said that 12 soldiers from the elite Republican Guard and six civilians and tribesmen were killed in other clashes. The latest fighting brought to at least 68 the number killed since Monday.

On her part, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Thursday called on all sides in Yemen “immediately to cease the violence.” Washington has ordered what it termed “non-emergency” embassy staff to leave the country.